Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37447996›Full record

ArticleSensors (Basel, Switzerland)2023

Towards Onsite Age Estimation of Semen Stains Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

Nihad Achetib, Caren C Leemberg, Mathijs M P Geurts, Paul R Bloemen, Richard M van den Elzen, Maurice C G Aalders, Annemieke van Dam

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trends in forensic investigation of seminal fluid- a scoping review.Forensic science, medicine, and pathology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nihad AchetibDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-3161-5871
Caren C LeembergDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mathijs M P GeurtsDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Paul R BloemenDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-2845-1378
Richard M van den ElzenDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-3433-7192
Maurice C G AaldersDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-8083-9209
Annemieke van DamDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-2884-6724

Funding

Dutch Technology Foundation STW, which is part of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) 14430
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The age estimation of biological traces is one of the holy grails in forensic investigations. We developed a method for the age estimation of semen stains using fluorescence spectroscopy in conjunction with a stoichiometric ageing model. The model describes the degradation and generation rate of proteins and fluorescent oxidation products (FOX) over time. The previously used fluorimeter is a large benchtop device and requires system optimization for forensic applications. In situ applications have the advantage that measurements can be performed directly at the crime scene, without additional sampling or storage steps. Therefore, a portable fiber-based fluorimeter was developed, consisting of two optimized light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and two spectrometers to allow the fluorescence protein and FOX measurements. The handheld fiber can be used without touching the traces, avoiding the destruction or contamination of the trace. In this study, we have measured the ageing kinetics of semen stains over time using both our portable fluorimeter and a laboratory benchtop fluorimeter and compared their accuracies for the age estimation of semen stains. Successful age estimation was possible up to 11 days, with a mean absolute error of 1.0 days and 0.9 days for the portable and the benchtop fluorimeters, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of using the portable fluorimeter for in situ applications.

Indexed as

Body FluidsSemenColoring AgentsForensic MedicineProteinsSpectrometry, FluorescenceColoring AgentsProteinsfluorescence spectroscopyforensicssementime of deposition

Identifiers

PMID37447996
PMCPMC10346999

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.